Plastic boat



Jan. 6, 1959 F. NTBLACKMORE PLASTIC BOAT Filed Nov; 29, 1956 I UnitedStates Patent C) PLASTIC BOAT Fred N. Blackrnore, Orchard Lake,

Plastiform Company, Michigan Mich., assignor to Ypsilanti, Mich., acorporation of This invention relates to a plastic boat, and moreparticularly to a skiff for children and teenagers having a two-partconstruction rigidified by a buoyant plastic foam.

There has not been available a boat of suitable size for use as achildrens beach toy, both because conventional boats are too cumbersomeand easily foundered, and because they have sharp edges and amultiplicity of parts which can cause injury and are easily lost.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boator skiff adapted to support a child or teenager, but which is smallenough and light enough to be carried by the child.

Another object is to provide a boat of the type described which isformed essentially of only two pieces, i. e., a

hull and a deck having a cockpit defined therein.

Another object is to provide a boat for children and teenagers which hasno exposed edges which could cut or tear childrens skin during theirrough beach play, and which has the parts thereof joined along nestedgunwales having depending edges.

Another object is to provide a boat or skiff as described which isrigidified and strengthened by means of a lightweight unicellularplastic foam which renders the boat virtually unsinkable. This materialis disposed in fore and aft chambers defined by the hull and the foreand aft decks, and is in abutting engagement with the floor of thecockpit and the bottom of the hull to which it is glued to form anintegral structure and to afford exceptionally strong reinforcement atthis area of greatest stress. Thus, although the boat itself ispreferably only five feet long, it may have a displacement of overtwo-hundred pounds.

Another object is to provide a boat as described such that theindividual cells of the foam which is used within the shell of the boatremain intact and provide full buoyancy regardless of the number orplacement of punctures or tears which might accidentally be formed inthe boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforcing structurefor the boat hull comprising a complementary stepped construction on thehull and the cockpit sides which permits a nested engagementtherebetween of exceptional strength.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stepped and nestedconstruction for the inner and outer shells asdescribed which may beheld together by an adhesive polystyrene glue so as to eliminate thecomplicated mechanism heretofore required for fastening boats alongtheir gunwales.

Another object is to provide an integrally adhered assembly of shellsformed to provide buoyant compartments that are not completely sealedfrom atmosphere but are substantially filled with unicellular plasticfoam, said compartments being drained of water present in thecompartments after use when the assembly is stored in verticalspace-saving position with communication established betweencompartments for drainage purposes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide the boat, which isextremely simple to manufacture and is produced f 2,866,985 1C PatentedJan- 6, 1959 from vacuum formed sheets of high impact plastic, in sleekhighly decorative styling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a skiff according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the skiff of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally along the lines3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view lines 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the lines 55of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a boat 10 is shown in accordance with theinvention comprising an upper portion 11 defining a front deck 12, arear deck 14, a cockpit 16 and gunwales 18, and a lower portion or hull20 defining a keel 22.

As shown in Fig. 2, the decks 12 and 14 are preferably slightly archedupwardly and formed with downwardly extending ribs 24 to provide apleasing grooved plank deck appearance, and the edge 26 of the deck 12adjacent the cockpit is bowed upwardly slightly to provide a realisticwindshield contour which serves as a cross brace taken along the 27.Also a cleat or fastening element 28 is formed ondeck 12, having anannular flanged member 30 received on and glued to a knob or protrusion32 formed integrally with the deck to receive a mooring line forfastening the boat to a dock or the like.

The hull 20 of the boat is configured to correspond rather exactly tothe proportions of a standard clinkerbuilt skiff, and is graduallytapered toward the bottom 34 thereof as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Andas seen in Fig. 4, the sides 36 and 38 of the cockpit 16 are tapered ina complementary configuration, as hereinafter further described, withthe bottom wall 40 thereof in predetermined parallel spaced relationshipto thebottom wall 34 of the hull.

In order to provide exceptional rigidity and strength for the boat, thespace 42 between the walls 34 and 40 of the hull and cockpitrespectively is maintained against deformation by means of threeexpanded, unicellular plastic blocks 44, which are preferably oflight-weight or rubber modified polystyrene glued both top and bottom tothe shells, one block 44a being cut to substantially fill the fore deckcompartment, another 44b the rear deck compartment, and the third, aflat block 440 the space between hull and cockpit. This structure is,accordingly, effective to rigidity the entire hull and deck portions ofthe boat so that it will not break amidships, and to support the cockpitand its bottom wall against stresses produced during use of the boat.

Also effective in providingexceptional strength in the boat is a nested,mating engagement between the clinkerbuilt sides 36 and 38 of the hull20 and cockpit 16 respectively. Thus, as best seen in Fig. 4, each ofthe sides of the hull defines a plurality of steps 46, having a footportion 48 and a riser 50, which in external appearance corresponds tothe clinker-built planking of a conventional boat. And the sides 38 ofthe cockpit define a plurality of complementary steps 52, each formedwith a foot 54 and riser 56, with the overall proportions and dimensionsof the cockpit being such as to permit the cockpit to engage within thehull in snugly nested rela tionship. The feet 48 on the sides of thehull will, there: fore, mate with and support the corresponding feet 54of the cockpit so that no undue strain is placed on any single portionof the hull or the cockpit in supporting the Weight of the occupant ofthe boat. Preferably, glue is applied where they contact and the doublewall thickness afforded bythe abutting risers 50 and 56.is more thansuflicient to withstand all stresses normally encountered, without theneed for extra materials or structure.

The double ply alfords even greater strength than would single ply ofcomparable thickness, as well as providing an inner wall of protectionin the event that in some manner the outer wall is breached. Therefore,the walls, which are preferably also of a plastic material such asa-Bakelite high impact styrene, may have a relatively small thickness,for example, .080"-.25l)". And the lightness of the boat, due to thisfactor and the lightness of the interstitial foam, is such that a smallchild can carry it without difficulty.

The two pieces 11 and 20 comprising the external portions ofthe boat arevacuum formed to permit especially close tolerances and accuracy ofstyling. Therefore, a snug fit is achieved between the hull and thecockpit which permits fastening to be accomplished without the need forspecial parts or devices such as screws. in the preferred form of theinvention, a polystyrene solvent, trichlorethylene, is used as anadhesive for holding these parts in their fixed, nested relationship,which may be accomplished simply by coating the inner and outer surfacesof the 'sides 36 and 38 respectively wherever they contact each other orthe foam.

The construction of the gunwales 18 assists in producing a secure fit,particularly when the parts are first assembled, for the upper marginaledge of the hull 20 is turned outwardly and downwardly at 58 and 60 todefine a U-shaped structure over which is nested snugly the marginaledge 62 and depending flange 62 of the member 11 in slightly wedgingrelationship.

As best shown in Fig. 3, fore and aft compartments 64 and 66 are definedby the upper member 11 and the hull 20, and in particular by the forwardand rearward cockpit walls 68 and 70. As already mentioned, thesecompartments are each filled with fitted blocks 44a and 44b of theaforementioned lightweight plastic foam to achieve added rigidity andbuoyancy, as well as resistance to possible punctures in the hull. Evenif an entire section of the boat should somehow be damaged, theremainder would serve as a float for the child, as a result of thesealed-off cell construction of the plastic.

In order for the air trapped in the compartments to breathe under sunwarm-up and evening cool-off conditions without straining glued joints,glue is not applied continuously around the gunwale. Thus smallquantities of air can pass through this snug joint if need be and if theboat is placed in cold water, the gunwale is above the water levelnormally. However, water does get into the compartments under playconditions and would if the sides were punctured; therefore it isdesirable to provide drainage means for the interior of the boat, sothat water accumulated by breathing in the interior of the boat can beremoved. Accordingly, a drain hole 76 is defined in the rear wall 78 ofthe hull, which is fitted with a conventional cork 89 up under thegunwale overhang where it is not likely to be knocked out.

Moreover, the ribbing 82 providing the keel formation serves as achannel to drain water from fore to aft when the boat is stored, as itnormally will be when stood lengthwise, on its square transom with thekeel resting against a wall.

The preferred dimensions of the boat are such as to permit a child orteenager to 'ride easily in the cockpit, while maintaining thelight-weight characteristics referred to. Thus the length from stem tostern is approximately five feet, while the hull at its widest dimensionis nine teen, inches. The maximum depth is eight inches or more, whilethe cockpit measures thirty-one inches long by seventeen inches wide bysix inches deep. Although the boat as thus constructed weighs only tenpounds, it is capable of bearing in the water a load of well over twohundred pounds.

The method of assembly of the boat will be evident from the foregoingdescription, since after formationof the upper piece 11 and the hull 20,the blocks of lightweight plastic are placed in position on the hullwith adhesive applied to the hull and cockpit as described. Thereuponthe upper portion is fitted into the hull with the cockpit in theaforementioned nested relationship, and the adhesive permitted to set.

The boat requires almost no upkeep, since it will not corrode, rust, rotor mildew, and it is easily carried from place to place, as in the trunkof the car. It can be paddled by hand and is highly maneuverable.Because of its attractive appearance, which can be enhanced with brightcolors, and its unusual safety, it will provide an exceptionallyinteresting, safe and useful piece of beach equipment which can beenjoyed by children of all ages, and even their parents.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respectto certain principles and details thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that these may be altered without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. A skiff for children comprising a hull, a deck fixedly securedthereto, a cockpit defined in said deck, said cockpit and said hull eachhaving a bottom wall disposed in predetermined spaced apart parallelrelationship and means disposed between said bottom walls and inabutting relationship therewith for supporting the bottom wall of saidcockpit and reinforcing said skiff, the sides of said hull and saidcockpit having a stepped tapering complementaryconfiguration whereby theindividual steps of the cockpit and the hull are adapted to nest inintimate abutting relationship.

2. A skiff for children comprising a hull, a deck fixedly securedthereto, acockpit defined in said deck, said cockpit and said hull eachhaving a bottom Wall disposed in predetermined spaced apart parallelrelationship and means disposed between said bottom walls and inabutting relationship therewith for supporting the bottom wall of saidcockpit and reinforcing said skiff, the sides of said hull and saidcockpit having a stepped tapering complementary configuration wherebythe individual steps of the cockpit and the hull are adapted to nest inintimate abutting relationship, said stepped hull and cockpit sideshaving a polystyrene solvent adhesive disposed therebetween formaintaining said pieces in said nested relationship without the need forfurther fastening elements.

3. A boat dimensioned for children comprising a hull formed of highimpact polystyrene, a deck and cockpit piece adapted to nest within saidhull comprising a forward deck, a rearward deck and a cockpit setdownwardly intermediately of said forward and rearward deck, saidcockpit comprising a front wall dependnig from said forward deck, arearward wall depending from said rearward deck and a pair of side wallstapering towards one another and a bottom wall connecting said front,rear and side walls, said hull defining along its sides a plurality ofsteps forming a downwardly and inwardly directed taper for said hull andhaving a bottom wall connecting the sides of said hull and said cockpithaving a plurality of steps on each of the sides thereof adapted toengage in snugly abutting nested relationship with the steps of saidhull sides whereby to dispose the bottom wall of said cockpit inpredetermined spaced parallel relationship above the bottom wall of saidhull and a unicellular plastic foam disposed in snugly abuttingengagement with the bottom Wall of said cockpit and the bottom wall ofsaid hull whereby to provide support for said cockpit and rigidifyingreinforcement for said boat.

4. A boat dimensioned for children comprising a hull formed of highimpact polystyrene, a deck and cockpit member adapted to nest withinsaid hull comprising a forward deck, a rearward deck and a cockpit setdownwardly intermediately of said forward and rearward deck, saidcockpit comprising a front wall depending from said forward deck, arearward wall depending from said rearward deck, a pair of side wallstapering towards one another and a bottom wall connecting said front,rear and side walls, said hull defining along its sides a plurality ofsteps forming a downwardly and inwardly directed taper for said hull andhaving a bottom wall connecting the sides of said hull and said cockpithaving a plurality of steps on each of the sides thereof adapted toengage in snugly abutting nested relationship with the steps of saidhull sides whereby to dispose the bottom wall of said cockpit inpredetermined spaced parallel relationship above the bottom wall of saidhull, a unicellular plastic foam disposed in snugly abutting engagementwith the bottom wall of said cockpit and the bottom wall of said hull,said forward wall and said forward deck defining with said hull aforward compartment and said rearward wall and said rearward deckdefining with said hull a rearward compartment, and a block ofunicellular plastic foam disposed in each of said compartments in snuglyabutting relationship with the walls of said deck and cockpit and thewalls of said hull respectively.

5. A boat dimensioned for children comprising a hull formed of highimpact polystyrene, a deck and cockpit member adapted to nest withinsaid hull comprising a forward deck, a rearward deck and a cockpit setdownwardly intermediately of said forward and rearward deck, saidcockpit comprising a front wall depending from said forward deck, arearward wall depending from said rearward deck, a pair of side wallstapering towards one another and a bottom wall connecting said front,rear and side walls, said hull defining along its sides a plurality ofsteps forming a downwardly and inwardly directed taper for said hull andhaving a bottom wall connecting the sides of said hull and said cockpithaving a plurality of steps on each of the sides thereof adapted toengage in snugly abutting nested relationship with the steps of saidhull sides whereby to dispose the bottom wall of said cockpit inpredetermined spaced parallel relationship above the bottom wall of saidhull and a unicellular plastic foam disposed in snugly abuttingengagement with the bottom wall of said cockpit and the bottom wall ofsaid hull to support said cockpit and rigidify said boat, said forwardwall and said forward deck defining with said hull a forward compartmentand said rearward wall and said rearward deck defining with said hull arearward compartment, a block of unicellular plastic foam disposed ineach of said compartments in snugly abutting relationship with the wallsof said deck and cockpit piece and the walls of said hull respectivelyand a cleat comprising a protruding element defined by said forward deckand an annular ring adapted to be secured thereto.

6. A boat dimensioned for children comprising a hull formed of highimpact polystyrene, a deck and cockpit member adapted to nest withinsaid hull comprising a forward deck, a rearward deck and a cockpit setdownwardly intermediately of said forward and rearward deck, saidcockpit comprising a front wall depending from said forward deck, arearward wall depending from said rearward deck, a pair of side wallstapering towards one another and a bottom wall connecting said front,rear and side walls, said hull defining along its sides a plurality ofsteps forming a downwardly and inwardly directed taper for said hull andhaving a bottom wall connecting the sides of said hull and said cockpithaving a plurality of steps on each of the sides thereof adapted toengage in snugly abutting nested relationship with the steps of saidhull sides whereby to dispose the bottom wall of said cockpit inpredetermined spaced parallel relationship above the bottom wall of saidhull, a unicellular plastic foam disposed in snugly abutting engagementwith the bottom wall of said cockpit and the bottom wall of said hull,said forward wall and said forward deck defining with said hull aforward compartment and said rearward wall and said rearward deckdefining with said hull a rearward compartment, and a block ofunicellular plastic foam disposed in each of said compartments in snuglyabutting relationship with the walls of said deck and cockpit and thewalls of said hull respectively, said wall defining a drain hole andhaving a plug insertable therein to afford drainage for moistureresulting from breathing in the interior of said boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS291,909 Jessup Jan. 15, 1884 2,376,753 Bowen May 22, 1945 2,417,508Leyde Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,254 Great Britain 1898 111,056Great Britain Nov. 15, 1917

